House of Commons Hansard #4 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pandemic.
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, my first question today is on behalf of that single mom who is standing in line right now, for the second day in a row, waiting to get a COVID test, for that senior widower who is at home alone, scared and isolated, waiting for his result, and for the thousands of Canadians just like them who are scared and worried and do not know if they have COVID.
Very simply, what is the government doing to ensure that Canadians get access to rapid and safe at-home testing?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, our government is very aware of the urgent need for rapid testing. We know that rapid tests can save lives and help keep our economy strong, but it is also very important for all of us to appreciate how valuable it is to live in a country where the independence of our health regulatory authorities is respected. Our lives quite literally depend on that.
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister always seems to be playing catch-up. Whether it was months ago and the decision around the border, or today, being slow and inept in helping small businesses or getting rapid, safe at-home testing for Canadians, the Liberals are always giving Canadians too little too late. Things are not okay. There are 700 new COVID cases in Ontario alone. Shutting down the economy and going back to the Prime Minister's morning show is not the answer.
When will the Prime Minister see that he is failing on dealing with the COVID crisis and that he is actually leaving millions of Canadians behind?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely aware of the gravity of the global pandemic that we are fighting together. That is why, in the throne speech last week, we were very clear that we will do whatever it takes to support Canadians in the fight against this virus, to acquire essential vaccines, and to work closely with provinces, territories and municipalities on stepped-up testing and tracing efforts.
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, six weeks ago when Bill Morneau, the finance minister, resigned, it was clear the Prime Minister was going to do whatever it took to shut down the noise around the WE scandal. He was more concerned about himself and covering his own hide than governing, so he locked up Parliament, wasting precious time that could have been used doing work for Canadians.
Does the Prime Minister not know that his scandals are not going to go away and that by trying to cover them up, he has put his own interests above the interests of Canadians, their lives, their livelihoods and their peace of mind?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I do not know about the members opposite, but speaking for the members on this side of the House, I can say that we have all been very hard at work over the past six weeks. We put together the safe restart agreement at the beginning of the summer because we knew that a second wave would be coming. That is why we knew we needed to give the provinces $19 billion to help us get ready together. Then, just a few weeks ago, we knew it was a priority to get kids safely back to school, which was another $2 billion.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, all indications are that, in three hours' time, the Premier of Quebec will announce that the Quebec City and Montreal regions are being upgraded to red zones. This is very serious, and we all need to take action together to address the problem.
Last week, the Prime Minister made some awkward and unfortunate remarks in the House about the Premier of Quebec and all the provinces.
Can the Prime Minister stand up and acknowledge that he “dropped the ball” and that he understands we all need to work together?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we have made significant investments in health care, and we will continue to make significant investments in this area, whether in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada.
Once again, my colleague is trying to start a fight between Quebec City and Ottawa. We do not want that. We want to work together. That is what we are doing now, and that is what we will do in the future.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the Deputy Prime Minister, I did not realize she had such highly developed sense of humour. For her to have the nerve to claim that we are picking a fight when her Prime Minister insulted the Premier of Quebec last week only adds fuel to the fire.
The best way to solve this would be for everyone to mind their own business. The federal government has responsibilities, such as approving tests faster. The provinces have a responsibility to provide health care directly to patients.
Will the government agree to the provinces' request to increase health transfers in a stable, predictable way, with no strings attached?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I too have a great deal of respect for my hon. colleague.
However, I cannot agree with his comments that everyone should just look after their own affairs. We are in the midst of a global crisis, the biggest crisis since the Second World War. This is a time for all members and all provincial, territorial, municipal and federal leaders to work together in close collaboration. That is our approach.
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec taxpayers pay taxes to the federal government. In turn, the federal government must ensure that the services provided to Quebeckers are as good as possible.
The top priority for Quebeckers right now is health services. We are living through a pandemic and we have to wait for the federal government to take a part of the taxes paid by Quebeckers and give it to Quebec, since it is Quebec that provides health care and services and we are in the middle of a pandemic. However, that is not what the Liberals are doing.
Why is the government blackmailing Quebec with money from Quebec taxpayers and refusing to give Quebec what it is asking for?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we are not blackmailing anyone. We are co-operating and collaborating. That is why we made significant investments in health in Quebec and in all the provinces and territories.
In the safe restart agreement, $13 billion of the allotted $19 billion will go directly to health and the fight against COVID-19. That is true collaboration.
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, the provinces and Quebec said that the federal government needs to provide an additional $28 billion in funding. Provincial governments are asking for more money for health care, not because they want to pick a fight but because we are in a pandemic. If the Government of Quebec is asking for an increase in health transfers, it is because we are going through the worst health crisis ever. If Quebec is asking for these transfers, it is because health care has been chronically underfunded by the federal government for 25 years. If Quebec is asking for these transfers, it is because Quebeckers need this money.
When will the government give Quebec what it deserves?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we agree with all members of the House and Quebec leaders that we are facing a very serious crisis with COVID-19. We must all work together. That is our government's approach.
That is why, for example, as part of the safe restart agreement, we gave more than $3 billion directly to Quebec to help it fight COVID-19. We will continue to do that.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on families, workers and small businesses. These people must not be forced to pay for the recovery and pay for this crisis. The ones paying should be the people who have made record profits during this time.
Will the Prime Minister commit today to ensuring that the wealthiest Canadians who earned record profits will pay?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we are not looking to divide our country. We want to work together, because this is a global crisis, a national crisis. That said, as we stated in the throne speech, we agree that people who are in a position to do so must do their part for Canada. This is why we mentioned taxes in the throne speech.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government talks about not dividing Canada, but the reality is that there is a division. On the one hand are everyday families and small businesses who are feeling the impact of COVID-19 and who are going through pain and are struggling. On the other hand, the ultra-rich have profited off the pandemic. They have made record profits. There is a division.
While the Liberals talk about taxing extreme wealth inequality, no one knows what that means. Will the government commit to ensuring those who have profited off the pandemic pay the price to support people in need?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I want to start by saying I really believe strongly that today, at a time when we are confronting a global pandemic and our deepest economic crisis since the Second World War, is a time for all of us to bear a deep responsibility for uniting and not dividing Canadians. We also believe, of course, that we all have to pay our fair share. That is why in the Speech from the Throne we talked about taxing Internet giants and we talked about taxing stock options, and we are going to do that.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the health minister agreed to pay $237 million to Baylis Medical for 10,000 ventilators, even though the devices were not approved in any jurisdiction. Baylis Medical, of course, is Frank Baylis, the former Liberal MP.
Why was there a fast track for Mr. Baylis's device, but no fast track for the rapid testing that every Canadian needs right now? Why is a former Liberal MP with technology that has no track record of being approved anywhere in the world getting a special deal?
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, the hon. colleague may recall that in March we went out to businesses right across the country and said we needed their support to build up personal protective equipment capacity right here in Canada, and they heard our call loud and clear. There are over 1,000 businesses that have retooled and scaled up their operations to make sure that we have the appropriate personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers. I am very proud of that track record and will continue to support our health care workers and make sure we support the broader economy as well.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the member literally said nothing, and while he said nothing, there are women waiting in line who cannot afford to take time off from work today to get a COVID-19 test. Some former Liberal MP gets his stuff fast-tracked, but rapid tests do not happen. That is just garbage.
I just read, as it is just breaking, that there is a global initiative about to send 120 million antigen tests, at-home tests, to developing countries around the world. Germany has bought 20 million of these tests, and so has France and Switzerland. Where are ours?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, it is important that we understand that testing is a complex space and one test is not the same as another. It is also very important that we rely on the incredible scientists and regulators who are working so diligently at Health Canada to assess every single applicant and ensure that whatever is regulated and approved in Canada will not make the situation worse but in fact will help provide clarity for people seeking tests.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the pandemic, the Prime Minister and his cabinet have been delegating operational responsibilities to the provinces. However, the federal government also has operational responsibilities, such as closing the border at the appropriate time or telling people not to wear a mask.
Let us remember that, in January and February, we were being instructed not to wear a mask.
Now, the Minister of Health is encouraging the provinces and territories to create their own saliva tests, as though the provinces had the means to do that.
Why is the minister creating so much confusion for the provinces and premiers?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we are so incredibly proud of the hard-working scientists, researchers and, in fact, the innovative community of Canada who are rapidly working to find new solutions to testing. This is not just a Canadian problem. This is happening around the world. In fact, countries are working together to try to unlock how to come up with rapid tests that can be accurate. The accuracy is important. We do not want tests on the Canadian market that will provide people with a false negative or a false positive, leading to confusion, fear and increased COVID cases.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am talking about the current lack of consistency and the health minister's problem understanding what her jurisdiction is.
The minister is currently telling the provinces to develop their own saliva tests when that is her department's responsibility. The premiers are coming together and wondering what is happening and whether they have to develop a test themselves. No. That is the responsibility of Health Canada and the minister.
The minister has said publicly that it was up to the provinces to do it if they wanted to. That needs to stop.
Will the minister apologize to the provincial premiers?